Catch for bracelets.



C. R. TOST. CATCH FOR BRACELETS. APPLICATION FILED AUG-2|. I918.

Patented Jun. 28, 1919.

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attoumq l emito UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIGE.

CHARLES R. TOST, OF CRANSTON, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE HADLEYCOMPANY, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

CATCH FOR BRACELETS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 28, 1919.

Application filed August 21, 1918. Serial No. 250,848.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES R. Tom, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cranston, in the county of Providence and State of RhodeIsland, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Catches forBracelets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in a catchfor bracelets especially of that type in which the wrist-encircling bandis composed of a series of resiliently connected links, and the aim ofthe invention is to provide a simple catch or snap construction in whichthe hook part is assembled with the remaining link structure through apivotal interlocking action.

The invention, briefly, consists of spaced side link parts connected attheir ends by oblong sectioned, telescopic posts, a hook part formedwith a recess having a contracted entrance opening of a width equalsubstantially to the width of the connecting posts whereby the recesswill receive a post in one position of the hook part, and interlocktherewith when said hook part is rotated so that its shank will liepractically against the side parts, and a guard tongue cooperating withthe bill of the hook part and secured to the shank of the latter bymeans on the side link parts rendered operative by the closing of thelatter.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of the 1m-- proved catch.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section through the same showing thehook and guard parts operative.

Fig. l is a fragmentary section illustrating how the hook member ismounted, and

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section on line 5-5 of Fig. 3 furtherillustrating the construction.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the numerals 1 designate theside link parts which are connected at their ends by posts 2 preferablyof oval section and each consisting of a male member carried by one partand a female member on the companion side part whereby when the membersare telescoped the side parts will be brought closer together.

The hook part comprises a bill 8 of substantially sei'ni-circular form,a shank l conforming to the longitudinal curvature of the link and aconnecting intermediate and transversely extending mounting base 5 whichlatter is provided in its edge opposing the bill with a recess 6 havinga contracted entrance equal approximately to the minor diameter of thepost 2.

In mounting the hook part, the bill 3 is passed upwardly between theside link parts 1 and then one end post 2 is moved between the end ofthe bill and the base 5 into the space within the bill. WVith the hookpart arranged substantially at right angles to the side parts, as inFig. 4c, the post is inserted through the contracted entrance into therecess 6 which has a diameter equal to the major diameter of the ovalsectioned post, whereupon the shank 4 is swung upwardly to the positiondepicted in Fig. 3. In this position the end of the bill is spaced asufficient distance from the composite link proper to permit connectionwith an ornament carrier, such as a watch frame, or an adjacent link.

To aid in holding the hook part properly disposed, and also to act as akeeper cooperable with said hook part, a guard 7 is provided, the sameconsisting of a resilient strip of a length substantially equal to theshank 4 from which the keeper end portion is spaced so as to normallybear on the bill. A pair of ears 8 extends from this end of the guardfor straddling the base of the hook part to guide the same in itsyielding movements, the opposing edges of the side link parts being cutaway at 9 to receive the ears. The opposite end of the guard seats onthe free end of the shank where it is secured by a pair of clips 10 bentover the same from the side link parts.

Before the side link parts are entirely closed, the hook and guard partsare positioned so that on further closing movement, the clips 10 will bemoved into registering recesses 11 provided in the shank and guard tohold the guard against endwise movement. It will also be noted that theback of the base 5 is formed with a concave-pocket 12 adapted tonormally receive an end of a connecting link not shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is- 1. A catch for bracelets comprising spacedside link parts connected by end posts one of which is of oval crosssection, a hook part consisting of a bill, a transversely arrangedbase-and a shank, the base formed with a recess opposing the bill andhaving a diameter equal to the major diameter of the specified post, theentrance to the recess being contracted to the size of the minordiameter of said post whereby when the post is inserted into the recessthe shank may be swung to operative position for locking the post in therecess, a guard having one end cooperating with the bill and equippedwith a pair of guiding ears straddling the base, and clips carried bythe side link parts for securing the opposite end of the guard and shankto the side link parts.

2. A catch for bracelets comprising spaced side link parts connected byend posts one of which is of oval cross section, a hook part consistingof a bill, a transversely arranged base and a shank, the base formedwith a recess opposing the bill and having a diameter equal to the majordiameter of the specified post, the entrance to the recess contracted tothe size of the minor diameter of said post whereby when the post isinserted into the recess the shank may be swung to operative positionfor locking the post in the recess, and means for securing the shank inits operative position.

3. A catch for bracelets comprising spaced side link parts connected byend posts one of which is of oval cross section, a hook part consistingof a bill, a trans versely arranged base and a shank, the base formedwith a recess opposing the bill and having a diameter equal to the majordiameter of the specified post, the entrance to the recess beingcontracted to the size of the minor diameter of said post whereby whenthe post is inserted into the recess the shank may be swung to operativeposition for locking the post in the recess, a guard having one endcooperating with the bill and equipped with a pair of guiding earsstraddling the base, and means for securing the shank and guard to theside link parts.

4-. A catch for bracelets comprising a link part having a transversepost, a hook part consisting of a bill and a shank portion formed with arecess opposing the bill for receiving the post and adapted to interlocktherewith on relative angular movement between the link and hook parts.

5 A catch for bracelets comprising a link structure having a post-likepart of a cross section having a major and a minor diameter, and arelatively movable hook part formed with a recess having an entrance.contracted to receive only the minor diam eter of the post-like part.

6. A catch for bracelets comprising-a link structure having a post-likepart of a cross section having a major and a minor diameter, arelatively movable hook part formed with a recess having an entrancecontracted to receive only the minor diameter of the post-like part, anda guard for the hook part guidingly and yieldably associated therewith.

7. A catch for bracelets comprising spaced side link parts movable to anoperative position by relative closing movement, a hook partinterlockingly mounted thereon by relative movement, a guard cooperatingwith the hook part, and means for locking the hook part and guard to theside link parts rendered operable on closing movement thereof.

8. A catch for bracelets comprising side link parts connected by a postat one end, a hook part formed with a recess to receive the post andhaving a shank adapted to be swung to a position alongside the link, aguard cooperating with the bill of the hook part and extendinglengthwise of the shank, and a securing clip carried by each side linkpart for engaging over the shank and guard to hold them operativelydisposed.

9. A catch for bracelets comprising side link parts connected by a postat one end, a hook part formed with a. recess to receive the post andhaving a shank adapted to be swung to a position alongside the link, anda yicldable guard cooperating with the hook bill and secured to thelink, said guard having a pair of inturned side ears extending betweenthe side link parts to guide the guard in its yielding movement.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

CHARLES R. TOST.

lVitnesses ADA E. HAGERTY, J. A. MILLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C.

